Method and apparatus for manufacturing and packing lancets

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for successively punching lancets from a strip of lancets and then packaging the lancets. In a precisely timed manner the strip is fed by an intermittent feed to a punch press where each of the successive lancets is precisely positioned to be punched from the strip. The punched lancets are successively received on a timing transfer belt which is intermittently driven in synchronism with the strip from which the lancets are punched. From the timing transfer belt the lancets are successively dropped onto a strip of adhesive paper which is to form part of a packaging for the lancets and which moves transversely with respect to the timing belt. A second strip of packaging paper is adhesively joined to the first strip to form with the latter sealed pockets in which the lancets are respectively situated, and these paper strips are cut between the pockets to form separate packages for the separate lancets.

United States Patent Speelman [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FORMANUFACTURING AND PACKING LAN CETS [72] Inventor: Irving A. Speelman,Roslyn Heights, NY.

[73] Assignee: Propper Manufacturing Co., Inc.

[22] Filed: Jan. 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 659

[ 1 May 30, 1972 3,237,369 3/1966 Stroop ..53/180 PrimaryExaminer-Theron E. Condon Assistant Examiner-Eugene F. DesmondAttorney-Blum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan [57] ABSTRACT A method andapparatus for successively punching lancets from a strip of lancets andthen packaging the lancets. In a precisely timed manner the strip is fedby an intermittent feed to a punch press where each of the successivelancets is precisely positioned to be punched from the strip. Thepunched lancets are successively received on a timing transfer beltwhich is intermittently driven in synchronism with the strip from whichthe lancets are punched. From the timing transfer belt the lancets aresuccessively dropped onto a strip of adhesive paper which is to formpart of a packaging for the lancets and which moves transversely withrespect to the timing belt. A second strip of packaging paper isadhesively joined to the first strip to form with the latter sealedpockets in which the lancets are respectively situated, and these paperstrips are cut between the pockets to form separate packages for theseparate lancets.

13 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented May 30, 1972 9 Sheets-Sheet J I"!H; 'k' TOM. IRVING A. SPEELMAH Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,672

9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q w 11', '1 m IRVI c A. s seumu Patented May 30, 19723,665,672

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 IRVING A. SPEELMAN Patented May 30, 1972 9 Sheets-Sheet4 N wT FEFFIE J INVILVI'UH. IRVING A. SPEELMAN 'Patented May 30, 19723,665,672

9 Sheets-Sheet E) INVICNI'UH. IRVING A. SPEELMAN Patented May 30, 1972 9Sheets-Sheet (3 FIG. 9

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Patented May 30, 1972 3,665,672

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 220 #u PP INVICN'I'UI-fi. IRVING A. SPEELMAN METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING AND PACKING LANCETS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus formanufacturing and packaging lancets.

In particular, the invention relates to that type of lancet which isused to puncture the skin in connection with obtaining a small amount ofblood from a patient.

For purposes of hygiene it is essential that lancets of this type beused once and discarded. It is therefore of importance that the cost ofthe lancets be maintained low enough to make it practical to use eachlancet once and discard it. Furthermore, it is essential that eachlancet be hygienically packaged so that it will be free of germs whenremoved from a package and used.

At the present time the costs involved in the manufacture of lancets ofthis type are undesirably high. It is not possible at the present timeto manufacture the lancets with the required precision. Once the lancetsare manufactured they must be maintained under strict hygienicconditions until they are sealed in a package in a fully hygienicmanner, and these requirements also contribute undesirably to the cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a method and apparatus which will avoid theabove drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus which are capable of achieving very accurately manufacturedlancets in an extremely inexpensive manner.

In particular. it is an object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus capable of providing highly satisfactory lancets at a highrate of output which contributes to the low cost.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a method andapparatus where the packaging operations take place as an integratedpart of the operations involved in the final stages of lancetmanufacture, so that the hygienic packaging of the lancets will followvery inexpensively as an integrated part of the manufacturing of thelancets.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a construction andmethod which require only a small amount of space and relatively simplerugged equipment of relatively low cost operating for the most part in afully automatic manner to achieve low-cost lancets each of which isindividually packaged under the strictest hygienic conditions.

According to the invention the lancets are initially integrally formedin strips from which the lancets are to be successively punched. Thesestrips are intermittently fed by a feed means of the invention in anextremely precise manner which locates the successive lancets at a punchpress in a precisely determined position ready to be punched by adescending punch of the punch press. Situated directly beneath the stripof lancets is a timing transfer belt means which receives each punchlancet as it is punched from the strip. The timing belt means and thestrip of lancets are synchronously moved intermittently by incrementswhich locates a lancet-receiving recess of the timing belt in a positionto receive a lancet as it is punched from the strip. -As the timingtransfer belt turns around a pulley the lancets will successively dropfrom the belt, and a transversely extending adhesive paper strip formingthe lower strip of the package is advanced to receive the successivelydropping lancets which thus form a row of lancets along this packagingstrip. An upper adhesive paper strip is joined to the lower strip toform with the latter sealed pockets in which the lancets arerespectively located, and the pair of strips which are thus joined toeach other are out between the pockets to form separate packages for theseparate lancets, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings which form part of this applicationand in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevation of an apparatus of the inventionfor practicing the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary illustration of part of a sheet metal strip fromwhich the successive lancets are to be punched;

FIG. 3 is a partly broken away perspective illustration of a singlepackage with a lancet therein;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1 in thedirection of the arrows and showing that part of the apparatus where thestrips of lancets are fed to have the lancets punched therefrom with thelancets then transported by the timing belts;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure illustrated inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary partly sectional transverse elevation of thestructure shown in FIG. 4, taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partly sectional front elevation of theintermittent drive, FIG. 7 being taken along line 77 of FIG. 6 in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 8 shows the details of the apparatus and operations at the regionwhere each lancet is punched from a strip and deposited onto a belt,FIG. 8 being taken line 88 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation of the structureof FIG. 8 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary illustration of that part of the stationary dieplate through which the lancets are punched by the descending punches,FIG. 10 being taken along line 1010 of FIG. 8 in the direction of thearrows;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing at an enlargedscale, as compared to the other figures, the manner in which an elevatorand punch coact;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary partly schematic side elevation of thepackaging part of the apparatus and method, FIG. 12 being taken alongline l2l2 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary top plan view, taken along line 13-13 of FIG.12 in the direction of the arrows, and showing how the lancets aresuccessively delivered from a timing tranfer belt to an adhesive paperstrip which will form part of the final package;

FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13 inorder to illustrate further the details of the transfer of each lancetfrom a timing belt to a paper strip;

FIG. 15 is a partly sectional front elevation, taken along line 15-15 ofFIG. 12 in the direction of the arrows, and showing at an enlarged scaleas compared to FIG. 12 the manner in which the separate packages arereceived by a packing means which packs them compactly one next to theother; and

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view of the structure of FIG. 15 takenalong line 16-16 of FIG. 15 in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 3 of thedrawings, there is illustrated therein a package 20 containing a lancet22. This package 20 is composed of a pair of paper strips 24 and 26which are adhesive, at least at areas where these stirps are directedtoward each other, andthe adhesive coatings, which may be apressure-sensitive adhesive, enables the strips 24 and 26 to behermetically and hygeinically joined to each other in a manner forming aclosed pocket in which the lancet 22 is located. Thus, the package 20need only be torn open in order to expose the Iancet 22 which may thenbe used and discarded.

The method and apparatus of the invention form the packages 20 one ofwhich is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The several lancets 22, made of sheet metal, are derived from a sheetmetal strip 28 shown fragmentarily in FIG. 2. This sheet metal strip 28has initially been worked in such a way that it is formed with theseveral parallel transverse slots 30 uniformly spaced from each other inthe manner indicated in FIG. 2. Adjacent an edge 32, the strip 28 isformed with substantially V-shaped Openings 34, so that at theseopenings there will be the sharp points 36 each of which will form thepiercing point of a lancet. Thus, if the strip 28 is successivelypunched along the lines 38 and 40, indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG.2, successive lancets will be punched from the strip with each of thelancets having the configuration of the lancet 22 shown in FIG. 3.

The strips 28 are initially in the form of supply rolls 42 one of whichis shown in FIG. 1. Each roll 42 is supported for rotary movement in anysuitable way and each strip 28 is drawn from the supply roll 42 by afeed means of the invention.

As may be seen from FIG. 4, in the illustrated example a pair of strips28 are simultaneously worked so as to simultaneously derive lancetstherefrom. The pair of strips 28, respectively taken from a pair ofsupply rolls 42 may be guided along a stationary slide plate 44 fromwhere the strips extend over a freely rotatable idling guide roller 46.As may be seen from FIG. 5, the guide roller 46 is simply supported forfree rotary movement on a shaft carried by any suitable stationarybrackets which are supported by the stationary framework of the machinewhich is illustrated. From the guide roller 46 the pair of strips 28pass beneath a rotary feed roll 48 of the feed means 50. The feed roll48 is fixed to an elongated shaft 52 which fixedly carries at its rearend a sprocket wheel 54 meshing with an endless sprocket chain 56 fromwhich a drive is transmitted to the shaft 52 and the roller 48 of thefeed means 50. This roller 48 has a pair of annular portions 58 each ofwhich is formed with a series of axially extending ribs 60 uniformlydistributed about the common axis of the roller 48 and the shaft 52, towhich the roller 48 is fixed, so that in effect the portions 58 form apair of gears having an elongated axially extending teeth which rotatewith the shaft 52 in response to the drive delivered from the chain 56and the sprocket wheel 54. The angular distance between the successiveteeth 60 of each portion 50 of the roller 48 is such that these teethare successively received in the transverse slots 30 formed in the pairof strips 28 and shown most clearly in FIG. 2. As a result the teeth 60form a positive, non-slip drive for the pair of strips 28 advancing themvery precisely in accordance with the angular movement of the feedroller 48.

The drive through the chain 56 and sprocket 54 is delivered in astepwise, intermittent manner, from a drive which is described ingreater detail below. However, the structure includes a stop means 62(FIG. 4) which very precisely stops the angular movement of the feedgears 58 after each increment of movement, so that each lancet which isto be punched from the strip 28 will be very precisely located at aproper punching position. This stop means 62 includes a disc 64 fixedalso to the shaft 52 for rotary movement therewith. The periphery of thedisc 64 has a series of cutouts in the form of openings 66 uniformlydistributed circumferentially along the periphery of the disc 64. Apneumatic cylinder 68 is supported by the framework adjacent the disc64, and within the cylinder 68 is a piston which is fixed to a plunger70 in the form of a finger which is capable of entering into each of theopenings 66. Through a suitable pneumatic circuit which is notillustrated, compressed air is delivered into the cylinder 68 foradvancing the finger 70 into an opening 66 so as to very precisely stopthe angular movement with this stop means 62 for precisely positioningthe next lancet at the punching position. After the punching operationsare completed, and this only involves a fraction of a second, thecompressed air is vented through an unillustrated valve and a springquickly returns the finger 70 so that it moves out of the opening 66which it had just occupied, and now the chain 56 will be actuated tobring about the next increment of movement of the feed means so as tobring the next lancet in position to be punched, and the finger 70 willagain be driven by the force of the compressed air into the next opening66, so that in this way the feed means 50 operates intermittently tosuccessively position the row of lancets of each strip 28 precisely at aposition to have punching dies accurately punch each lancet from thestrip 28.

As is shown in FIG. 5, the pair of strips 28 slide along the uppersurface of a die 72 which is fixed in a well known manner on the bed ofthe punch press 74. This punch press 74, schematically shown in FIG. 1,will in a well known manner actuate an upper die assembly so as to moveit up and down as indicated by the arrow 76, and at each downward strokethe punches or dies will sever a lancet from each of the strips 28 andthen the punch will return to its upper starting position in preparationfor arrival of the next lancet at a punching position to be punchedthrough the die 72 which has a shape conforming to that of the pair oflancets which are simultaneously punched from the pair of strips.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-11, the die 72 is shown in greater detail, FIG.9 showing schematically the punches 78 which punch the several lancetsfrom the strips 28 through the die openings 80 illustrated in FIG. 10.As is apparent from FIG. 2, the punches need only cut the strip 28 atthe rear and front ends of the lancets which otherwise are alreadyseparated from the strip 28 by the slots 30.

Situated beneath each punch 78 is a timing transfer belt means 82 as isindicated most clearly in FIGS. 8 and 11, the upper run of the beltmeans 82 slides along the upper surface of a supporting bed 84 and hasupwardly directed recesses 85 which successively become situateddirectly beneath the punch 78 to receive a lancet therefrom. Thus,referring to FIGS. 8 and 11 it will be seen that lancets 22 are alreadysituated in upwardly directed recesses of the timing transfer belt means82 at the part of the latter which has moved to the left, as viewed inFIGS. 8 and 11, beyond the punching position, while the recesses 85 tothe right of this position and at the location beneath the punches 78still are empty and will shortly receive a lancet 82. These timingtransfer belt means 82 are also driven intermittently through incrementswhich will properly situate the successive lancet-receiving recesses 85precisely beneath the punches 78, and the manner in which this preciseintermittent drive is transmitted to the belts 82 is described ingreater detail below.

As is apparent particularly from FIG. 9, each timing transfer belt means82 is made up of a pair of endless timing belts 82a and 82b. The endlessbelts 82a and 82b of each belt means 82 are parallel to and spaced fromeach other so that between each pair of belts 82a and 82b it is possiblefor an elevator 86 to rise up through the space between the pair ofbelts. The pair of belts 82a and 82b of each belt means respectivelyhave their transverse recesses between their teeth aligned with eachother so that each pair of aligned transversely extending recesses of apair of endless belts 82a and 82b forms a recess of the belt means 82.Thus, each lancet which is punched from the strip 28 will be supportedat one end region by the belt 82a and at the opposite end region by thebelt 82b of each belt means while an intermediate portion of each lancetwill extend across the gap between the belt of each belt means.

In the position of the parts which is shown in FIG. 9, the punches 78are about to descend along their working stroke to punch lancets fromthe strips 28, respectively, and lower them through the die 72 onto thepair of timing transfer belt means. At this time it will be noted thatthe elevators or plungers 86 are in their upper positions situateddirectly beneath the strips 28. These plungers or elevators are guidedby way of piston portions 88 slidable in bores 90 of a block 92 fixed inany suitable way, as by screws 94 to the bed 84 of the machine.Positioning dowels 96 may be used for precisely positioning thecomponents. The slidable piston portions 88 terminate in downwardlydirected extensions 98 engaging the top ends of compressed springs 100housed within suitable tubes 102 closed at their bottom ends by threadedplugs 104, respectively. Thus, the springs 100 urge the elevators 86 upto the positions shown in FIG. 9. The junction between the top ends ofthe pistons 88 and the plunger portions 86 define upwardly directedshoulders 106, illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As may be seen from FIG. 8, each plunger 86 is fixed by a cross pin 108to the piston portion 88. The block 92 canies, for each piston 88, apneumatic cylinder 110, the piston of which is fixed with a finger 112.As soon as the shoulder 106 moves below the finger 112, air underpressure is introduced automatically into each cylinder 1 10 to displacethe finger 1 12 over the shoulder 106 and thus prevent return movementof the elevator 86 by the spring 100 until the finger 112 is againretracted. This operation takes place simultaneously with both of theelevators 86, and through suitable earns which are described below thepneumatic circuits are actuated, in the same way as the pneumaticcircuit of the cylinder 68 referred to above, for displacing the fingers112 outwardly at the proper moment and for releasing the air underpressure so that springs can immediately retract the fingers 112. Thearrangement is such that when the punches move down the plungers 86 aremoved downwardly therewith. However, when the punchers return up totheir starting position, the elevators 86 are maintained, in oppositionto the springs 100, in their lower position and do not follow thepunches upwardly. These elevators 86 are maintained in their lowerpositions until the next lancet is moved into the punching position,whereupon the fingers 112 are automatically retracted to release theplungers for upward movement to the position as indicated in FIG. 9.

These elevators 86 perform an important function which contributes verygreatly to the efficiency of the operation and freedom from faultyoperation. It has been found that if the operations go forward withoutthe elevators 86 then the lancets fall in an uncontrollable manner ontothe timing transfer belt means. Thus, with certain lancets it may bethat the front end will be inclined downwardly while with other lancetsit may be that the rear end will be inclined downwardly, and ahorizontal depositing of the lancets reliably in the recesses of thebelt means is not assured. However, with the pair of elevators 86, thisundesirable operation is avoided. The top ends of the elevators 86 coactwith the punches to pinch or press against the lancets at theintermediate part thereof between the pair of belts of each belt means,and while thus held at the central portions the punch lancets arelowered onto the belts. This construction compels each lancet to bemaintained in a desirable horizontal attitude while it is lowered ontothe timing transfer belt, and thus each lancet becomes situated in thebest possible manner on the belt means, so that the greatest precisionis achieved with this arrangement.

The pair of timing transfer belt means 82 slide along the upper surfaceof the supporting bed or plate 84 of machine and are advanced in astepwise, intermittent manner, by a structure described in greaterdetail below. At their right ends, as viewed in FIG. 5, the endlesstiming belts extend around a freely rotatable idler roller 1 14. Fromthe latter the upper runs of the belts slide along the upper surface ofthe bed 84 in a horizontal plane until the opposite ends of the beltsreach the end rollers 116 shown in FIGS. 12-14. These guide rollers forthe endless timing transfer belts are referred to in more detail below.From these end rollers 116, which also are supported for free rotarymovement, the timing belt transfer means move horizontally to a guideroller which is not illustrated and which is also supported for freerotary movement, and from this guide roller the pair of timing beltsmove downwardly to extend around the pair of guide rollers 118 indicatedat the lower left of FIG. 5. From the roller 118 the timing belttransfer means extends up to the driving rollers 120 which in fact arein the form of gears shown most clearly at the lower right portion of FIG. 6. These gears 120 mesh with the teeth of the timing belts so as toprecisely advance the latter in accordance with a drive which isintermittently transmitted to the gears 120 in a manner described below.From the drive gears 120 the belts continue to the right end rollers 114around which they extend in the manner described above and shown at theright portion of FIG. 5.

As may be seen from the lower portion of FIG. 6, the gears are keyed toa rotary shaft 122 supported at its right end in a bearing carried by aplate 124 which is removably fixed to the frame work of the machine inthe manner illustrated at the lower right portion of FIG. 6. The rearend portion of the shaft 122 is also supported for rotary movement in astationary bearing 126 fixed to and extending downwardly from the bed84. The rear end of the shaft 122 which extends rearwardly beyond thebearing 126 carries a stop disc 128 formed at its periphery with aseries of circumferentially distributed openings 130 for successivelyreceiving a pneumatically actuated stop finger 132 showndiagrammatically in FIG. 5. This finger 132 was fixed to a piston withina pneumatic cylinder 134 which is actuated in the same way as thecylinder 68. Thus, at the end of each increment of movement air underpressure will be automatically introduced into the cylinder 134 to drivethe finger 132 into the next recess 130 so as to precisely determine theangular position of the gears 120 and thus precisely determine theincrement of feed of the timing belts. During the next cycle the air isvented while springs quickly retract the fingers 132 so that the nextincrement of turning can be provided with the finger 132 and thenentering the next recess or opening 130 so as again to preciselydetermine the increment of movement of the timing belts at eachoperating cycle. Thus, with this construction not only will the severallancets be precisely positioned beneath the punches but in additionseveral timing belts will be precisely positioned to receive the lancetsin the manner described above.

The punch press 74 is schematically indicated in FIG. 1. It is driven byits own motor 136. Through a suitable transmission the motor 136 rotatesthe fly wheel 138, as is conventional. The punch press includes anunillustrated clutch which when engaged will transmit the movement ofthe fly wheel 138 to a rotary crank which will cause the punch to movedown along its working stroke and then back to its rest position, withthe clutch then becoming disengaged until the next actuation, as is wellknown. The control for the clutch of the punch press is taken from arotary shaft 140. For example this shaft carries an unillustrated camwhich engages and then disengages the clutch depending upon the angularposition of the shaft 140. The shaft 140 drives a sprocket 142 (FIG. 6)which drives an endless chain 144 which in turn drives a sprocket 146.

The sprocket 146 is fixed to and drives a shaft 148 which in turn drivesa gear box and driving unit 150. Because unit 150 is driven from thepunch press drive it is in synchronism therewith. The end of the shaft148 distant from the sprocket 146 fixedly carries a pair of cams 152which respectively control valves 154 of the unillustrated pneumaticcircuit so as to bring about the pneumatic controls of the stop fingersin the manner referred to above. The configuration of the eccentriccarns 152 is most clearly apparent from the left portion of FIGS. 5 and6.

The drive from unit 150 is also taken to a rotary shaft which carries aneccentric cam 156. This earn 156 has at its front face an eccentricallyarranged circular camming groove 158 which receives a follower rollercarried by the rear surface of a swing plate 160 which is swingableabout a shaft 162 supported for rotary movement in suitable bearings asillustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, the plate 160 is freely swingable about theshaft 162. This shaft 162 fixedly carries a ratchet 164 (FIG. 7), andthe swing plate 160 pivotly supports a pawl 166. Thus, during eachrevolution of the cam 156 the plate 160 will be swung first in onedirection and then in an opposite direction about the shaft 162, causingthe pawl 166 to move first in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed inFIG. 7, until it falls ahead of the next tooth, and then in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in FIG. 7, so as to turn the shaft 162 through anangular increment equal to the angular dimension of one of the teeth ofthe ratchet 164. In this way the shaft 162 is angularly turned throughpredetermined angular increments at each revolution of the cam 156, andthis intermittent drive is of course correlated and synchronized withthe drive to the punch press through the chain 144 as well as with thepneumatic controls through the cams 152.

As is apparent from FIG. 6, just in front of the ratchet 164 is abearing 168 for the shaft 162. Just in front of this bearing 168 is adisc 170 which is fixed to the shaft 162 for rotation therewith. Thisdisc 170 is formed with axially extending bores 172 uniformlydistributed circumferentially about the disc 170. Part of the pneumaticsystem includes a cylinder 174 shown in FIG. 4 and actuating a locatingfinger 176 which will enter into one of the openings 172 in order toprecisely determine the successive angular positions of the disc 170.Thus, the pneumatic circuit will deliver to the cylinder 174 air underpressure which will advance the finger 176 into an opening of the disc170 in order to precisely stop the shaft 162 at a given angularposition, and then in preparation for the next cycle the air is ventedwhile a spring quickly retracts the finger 176 so that the disc 170 canagain turn through the required angular increment.

Just in front of the disc 170 is a sprocket 178, and it is this sprocketwhich drives the endless chain 56 which transmits the drive to the feedmeans 50 in the manner described above.

In front of the sprocket 178 is a second sprocket 180 from which anendless chain extends to a sprocket 182 (FIG. 6). This sprocket 182 isfixed to the shaft 122 so that in this way the shaft 122 is driven fromthe unit 150 in a precisely controlled manner, and of course it is fromthis shaft 122 that the gears 120 are driven in order to advance thetiming belts.

At the right portion of FIG. 6 is shown an additional drive carried bythe top part of the plate 124 so that further drives may be taken offfrom the shaft 162 as desired.

As was indicated above, the timing transfer belts are guided around endrollers 1 16 which are shown in FIG. 12. It is at this location that thelancets are delivered to a packaging means which is illustrated in FIGS.1216. As is apparent from FIGS. 12-14, the frame of machine carriesguides 186 which extend around the ends of the timing belts which areguided around the rollers 116, so that, in the manner shown most clearlyin FIG. 14, the several lancets 22 will be maintained in the severalrecesses of the timing belts 82 until the lancets have been transportedaround the inner concave surface of each guide 186 up to the lower rightend 188 thereof, as viewed in FIG. 14. This lower right end 188 of eachguide 186 extends over a paper strip 190. This paper strip 190 has anupwardly directed coating of pressure sensitive adhesive, for example,and this strip 190 forms the lower layer of a package for each of thelancets. The lower adhesive paper strip 190 is derived from any suitablesupply roll and moves to the left, as viewed in FIG. 12. In order toadvance the strip 190 to the left it is conveyed by an endless belt 192supported on suitable pulleys 194 with the upper run of the beltsupporting the strip 190. In this way the strip 190 extends beneath theguides 186 at the ends 188 thereof shown most clearly in FIGS. 13 and14. The rate of movement of the strip 190 has with respect to theintermittent movement of the timing belts a relationship which willcause the lancets 22 to be successively deposited on the strip 190centrally between the side edges thereof and uniformly distributedthereaiong, as is apparent from FIGS. 12 and 13.

The packages are completed by an upper layer of adhesive paper derivedfrom a supply roll 196. From the supply roll 196 the upper adhesivestrip of paper 198 is guided around a roll 200 and then through a guide202 onto the strip 190 over the lancets 22 thereon. Just ahead of theguide 202 is situated an upper friction roller 204 which presses down onthe upper strip 198 so as to adhesively fasten the latter, due to thepressure-sensitive adhesive, to the lower strip 190, and in this way thejoined strips 190 and 198 will have the lancets 22 hygienically andhermetically sealed therebetween as the joined strips move to the leftbeyond the pressure roller 204. Just beneath the pressure roller 204 isa counter-pressure roller 206 which presses up against the lower surfaceof the upper run of the endless belt 192 so that the packaging stripsare compressed between the roller 204 and the belt 192 as a result ofthe pressure of the lower roller 206.

The drive for this part of the structure is taken from shaft 140 whichthrough transmission 250, schematically indicated in FIG. 1, drives gearbox unit 208 which in turn drives a sprocket which drives a chain 210.Since the drive is taken from shaft 140, the press counter shaft, all isin synchronism so that everything happens in synchronism with the pressstroke. The advancement of the lancets, the advancement of the timingbelt, and the movement of the belt are all synchronized. This chain 210rotates the sprocket transmission 212 from which a chain 214 is driven.The chain 214 drives a gear train 216 from which the drive istransmitted in the manner shown in FIG. 12 on the one hand to the frontroller 194 of the belt 192 and on the other hand to the counter pressureroller 206. The roller 204 simply rotates by a friction engagement withthe strip 198.

The pair of thus-joined strips 198 and 190, with the lancets 22therebetween, form successive sealed pockets in which the lancets arelocated. This assembly extends from the left end of the endless belt192, as viewed in FIG. 12, to the upper surface of a stationary cuttingmember 218 carried by a supporting structure 220 which also carries arotary cam assembly 222 driven by the gear 224 from the chain 214. Thiscam 222 serves to reciprocate a movable blade 226 vertically, the bladeassembly 226 carrying rods 228, one of which is shown in FIG. 12. Theseguide rods 228 extend slidably through vertical bores of the supportstructure 220 so as to guide the blade 226 for vertical up-and-downmovement. Because of the synchronism referred to above, midway betweeneach pair of successive lancets 22 the blade 226 will move down acrossthe strips 198 and 190 so as to separate them into individual packageseach of which has only one lancet therein. One of these packages 20 isillustrated in FIG. 3 and has been referred to above. The forward end ofeach package 20 is deflected downwardly by a deflector plate 230 carriedby the structure 220, and it is deflected in this way along a chute 232.The chute 232 is stationary and directs each package between the rotaryscrews 234 of a packing means. These rotary screws 234 are respectivelyfixed to and driven by a pair of shafts 236 one of which is driven fromthe unit 208 by bevel gears 238. The pair of shafts 236 are respectivelyprovided with gears 240 which mesh with each other, one of these gearsbeing shown in FIG. 12. As a result the rotary movement of one shaft 236is transmitted to the other shaft and they rotate it to advance thesuccessive packages 220 in the manner indicated in FIGS. l2,15,and 16.The lower edges of the packages rest on an endless belt 242 driven inany suitable way, and through an unillustrated counting mechanism, aftera given number of packages 20 have been tightly packed against eachother by the screws 234 a separator member 244 is situated therebetween.This will divide the groups of packages so that each group of a givennumber of packages 20 is readily accessible to be placed within a givencontainer for shipment, for example.

It is thus apparent that with the method and apparatus described abovean almost fully automatic manufacture and packaging of the lancets isachieved in a fully hygienic manner from the strips 28. All that need bedone, in the way of manual operations, is to replace the supply rollsfor the strips 28 as well as to replace the supply rolls for the paperstrips 198 and 190. Also, an operator will be required to place thegroups of packages 20 into suitable containers. Otherwise all theoperations are fully automatic.

Moreover, as a result of the fully synchronized intermittent drive andpneumatic stop structures at the various locations throughout theapparatus as well as the fact that all drives are taken from a singlesource, namely shaft 140, an exceedingly precise movement of thecomponents is achieved in a manner which assures precise properoperation throughout the entire apparatus.

I claim:

1. In a method for manufacturing lancets, the steps of intermittentlyfeeding to a punch press a strip in which elongated lancets are arrangedin side-by-side relation transversely of the strip and from whichlancets are to be punched at increments corresponding to the distancefrom one lancet to the next along the strip, punching the lancetssuccessively from the strip between the increments of movement thereof,situating in the path of movement of each punched lancet a timingtransfer belt at the same intervals as the strip so that the belt isstationary between said intervals to receive a punched lancet and sothat the lancets are arranged on said belt in sideby-side relationtransversely of the belt, dropping the lancets from the belt to apackaging mechanism, and conveying the dropped lancets at the packagingmechanism away from the timing transfer belt in a directionperpendicular thereto for arranging the lancets at the packagingmechanism in spaced end-to-end relation distributed longitudinally alongthe packaging mechanism.

2. In a method for manufacturing lancets, the steps of intermittentlyfeeding to a punch press a strip from which lancets are to be punched atincrements corresponding to the distance from one lancet to the nextalong the strip, punching the lancets successively from the stripbetween the increments of movement thereof, situating in the path ofmovement of each punched lancet a timing transfer belt which receiveseach punched lancet, advancing the timing transfer belt at the sameintervals as the strip so that the belt is stationary between saidintervals to receive a punched lancet, and delivering the lancets fromthe belt to a packaging mechanism, feeding a strip of adhesive paper ina direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the timingtransfer belt, and dropping the lancets transported by the latter beltsuccessively onto the strip of adhesive paper.

3. In a method as recited in claim 2, covering said strip of adhesivepaper with a second strip of adhesive paper adhesively joined to thefirst strip to form therewith pockets for respectively receiving thelancets, and cutting through the strips between the lancets to provideseparate lancet packages.

4. In a method for manufacturing lancets, the steps of intermittentlyfeeding to a punch press a strip from which lancets are to be punched atincrements corresponding to the distance from one lancet to the nextalong the strip, punching the lancets successively from the stripbetween the increments of movement thereof, situating in the path ofmovement of each punched lancet a timing transfer belt at the sameintervals as the strip so that the belt is stationary between saidintervals to receive a punched lancet, transferring each lancet by apunch from the strip to said belt, dropping the lancets from the belt toa packaging mechanism and conveying the dropped lancets at the packagingmechanism away from the timing transfer belt in a directionperpendicular thereto, and yieldably supporting each lancet during itsmovement by a punch to the belt for maintaining each lancet in asubstantially horizontal attitude while it is deposited onto the belt.

5. In an apparatus for manufacturing lancets, feed means forintermittently feeding to a punch press a strip having elongated lancetsarranged in side-by-side relation transversely of the strip and fromwhich lancets are to be punched at increments corresponding to thedistance from one lancet to the next in the strip so that a row oflancets carried by the strip will be successively located at a punchingposition, stop means coacting with said feed means for stopping thelatter precisely at a position which accurately locates each lancet at aposition to be accurately punched by a descending punch of the punchpress, a timing transfer belt means extending beneath the punch of thepunch press to receive each lancet punched from the strip, said timingtransfer belt means having successive recesses extending transversely ofsaid belt means in side-byside relation for successively receiving thelancets and maintaining them in side-by-side relation, drive meansoperatively connected both with said belt means and with said feed meansfor driving the latter two means intermittently in synchronism tosituate the recesses of the belt means successively beneath the punch asthe lancets are successively punched from the strip, so that the punchedlancets become located in said recesses, said timing transfer belt meansconveying the punched lancets away from the punch press to dropsuccessively from said timing transfer belt means, and a packagingmechanism having a conveyer means extending perpendicularly to saidtiming transfer belt means at a location onto which the dropped lancetsfall so that the dropped lancets are conveyed at the packaging mechanismperpendicularly away from the timing transfer belt means with thedropped lancets arranged on the conveyer means in longitudinally spacedendto-end relation.

6. In an apparatus for manufacturing lancets, feed means forintermittently feeding to a punch press a strip from which lancets areto be punched at increment corresponding to the distance from one lancetto the next in the strip so that a row of lancets carried by the stripwill be successively located at a punching position, stop means coactingwith said feed means for stopping the latter precisely at a positionwhich accurately locates each lancet at a position to be accuratelypunched by a descending punch of the punch press, the strip of lancetsbeing a sheet metal strip formed with transverse slots each locatedbetween each pair of successive lancets to be punched from the strip,and said feed means including a rotary gear the teeth of which enterinto said slots to mesh with said strip, and said stop means including arotary stop member fixed to said gear for rotation therewith and formedat its periphery with cutouts circumferentially distributed uniformlyalong said periphery, and a stop finger successively displaced into saidcutouts for precisely positioning said gear of said feed means betweenthe feeding intervals.

7. In an apparatus for manufacturing lancets, feed means forintermittently feeding to a punch press a strip from which lancets areto be punched at increments corresponding to the distance from onelancet to the next in the strip so that a row of lancets carried by thestrip will be successively located at a punching position, stop meanscoacting with said feed means for stopping the latter precisely at aposition which accurately locates each lancet at a position to beaccurately punched by a descending punch of the punch press, a timingtransfer belt means extending beneath the punch of the punch press toreceive each lancet punched from the strip, said timing transfer beltmeans having successive recesses for successively receiving the lancets,and drive means operatively connected both with said belt means and withsaid feed means for driving the latter two means intermittently insynchronism to situate the recesses of the belt means successivelybeneath the punch as the lancets are successively punched from thestrip, said belt means including a pair of endless timing belts parallelto but spaced from each other and respectively formed with transverserecesses which are respectively aligned to form the recesses of saidbelt means, and elevator means aligned with the space between the beltsof said belt means and with the punch of the punch press for rising upthrough said space to hold an intermediate portion of each lancetpressed against the punch as the latter descends to situate the opposedends of each lancet in a pair of aligned recesses of said belts, wherebysaid elevator coacts with said punch to maintain each lancet in ahorizontal attitude as it is deposited in each pair of aligned recessesof the belts of said belt means.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein said elevator means includesan elongated plunger and a spring urging the plunger upwardly towardsaid punch, said plunger having an upwardly directed shoulder, andreleasable holding means engaging said shoulder to prevent the springfrom moving the plunger up once the plunger has descended when a lancethas been deposited on said belt means, said releasable holding meansreleasing said plunger for upward movement when the next lancet ispunched from the strip.

9. In an apparatus for manufacturing lancets, feed means forintermittently feeding to a punch press a strip from which lancets areto be punched at increments corresponding to the distance from onelancet to the next in the strip so that a row of lancets carried by thestrip will be successively located at a punching position, stop meanscoacting with said feed means for stopping the latter precisely at aposition which accurately locates each lancet at a position to beaccurately punched by a descending punch of the punch press, a timingtransfer belt means extending beneath the punch of the punch press toreceive each lancet punched from the strip, said timing transfer beltmeans having successive recesses for successively receiving the lancets,and drive means operatively connected both with said belt means and withsaid feed means for driving the latter two means intermittently insynchronism to situate the recesses of the belt means successivelybeneath the punch as the lancets are successively punched from thestrip, a packaging means including a strip conveyer extending beneaththe timing belt means perpendicularly thereto for moving an adhesivepaper strip onto which the lancets successively drop from said timingbelt means when the latter changes its direction of movement, and saidpackaging means including a guide for guiding onto the strip whichreceives the lancets a covering strip of adhesive paper to form with theother paper strip sealed pockets in which the lancets are respectivelysituated.

10. The combination of claim 9 and wherein a cutting means coacts withthe strips for cutting across the latter between said pockets to formseparate packages for the several lancets.

11. The combination of claim 10 and wherein a packing means receives theseveral packages and packs them one next to the other in a compactgroup.

12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein said packing means includesa pair of rotary screws respectively having convolutions situated besideeach other and receiving the packages therebetween for packing them onenext to the other in said groups.

13. The combination of claim 8 and wherein the strip of lancets is asheet metal strip formed with transverse slots each located between eachpair of successive lancets to be punched from the strip, and said feedmeans including a rotary gear the teeth of which enter into said slotsto mesh with said strip, and said stop means including a rotary stopmember fixed to said gear for rotation therewith and formed at itsperiphery with cutouts circumferentially distributed uniformly alongsaid periphery, and a stop finger successively displaced into saidcutouts for precisely positioning said gear of said feed means betweenthe feeding intervals.

1. In a method for manufacturing lancets, the steps of intermittentlyfeeding to a punch press a strip in which elongated lancets are arrangedin side-by-side relation transversely of the strip and from whichlancets are to be punched at increments corresponding to the distancefrom one lancet to the next along the strip, punching the lancetssuccessively from the strip between the increments of movement thereof,situating in the path of movement of each punched lancet a timingtransfer belt at the same intervals as the strip so that the belt isstationary between said intervals to receive a punched lancet and sothat the lancEts are arranged on said belt in side-by-side relationtransversely of the belt, dropping the lancets from the belt to apackaging mechanism, and conveying the dropped lancets at the packagingmechanism away from the timing transfer belt in a directionperpendicular thereto for arranging the lancets at the packagingmechanism in spaced end-to-end relation distributed longitudinally alongthe packaging mechanism.
 2. In a method for manufacturing lancets, thesteps of intermittently feeding to a punch press a strip from whichlancets are to be punched at increments corresponding to the distancefrom one lancet to the next along the strip, punching the lancetssuccessively from the strip between the increments of movement thereof,situating in the path of movement of each punched lancet a timingtransfer belt which receives each punched lancet, advancing the timingtransfer belt at the same intervals as the strip so that the belt isstationary between said intervals to receive a punched lancet, anddelivering the lancets from the belt to a packaging mechanism, feeding astrip of adhesive paper in a direction perpendicular to the direction ofmovement of the timing transfer belt, and dropping the lancetstransported by the latter belt successively onto the strip of adhesivepaper.
 3. In a method as recited in claim 2, covering said strip ofadhesive paper with a second strip of adhesive paper adhesively joinedto the first strip to form therewith pockets for respectively receivingthe lancets, and cutting through the strips between the lancets toprovide separate lancet packages.
 4. In a method for manufacturinglancets, the steps of intermittently feeding to a punch press a stripfrom which lancets are to be punched at increments corresponding to thedistance from one lancet to the next along the strip, punching thelancets successively from the strip between the increments of movementthereof, situating in the path of movement of each punched lancet atiming transfer belt at the same intervals as the strip so that the beltis stationary between said intervals to receive a punched lancet,transferring each lancet by a punch from the strip to said belt,dropping the lancets from the belt to a packaging mechanism andconveying the dropped lancets at the packaging mechanism away from thetiming transfer belt in a direction perpendicular thereto, and yieldablysupporting each lancet during its movement by a punch to the belt formaintaining each lancet in a substantially horizontal attitude while itis deposited onto the belt.
 5. In an apparatus for manufacturinglancets, feed means for intermittently feeding to a punch press a striphaving elongated lancets arranged in side-by-side relation transverselyof the strip and from which lancets are to be punched at incrementscorresponding to the distance from one lancet to the next in the stripso that a row of lancets carried by the strip will be successivelylocated at a punching position, stop means coacting with said feed meansfor stopping the latter precisely at a position which accurately locateseach lancet at a position to be accurately punched by a descending punchof the punch press, a timing transfer belt means extending beneath thepunch of the punch press to receive each lancet punched from the strip,said timing transfer belt means having successive recesses extendingtransversely of said belt means in side-by-side relation forsuccessively receiving the lancets and maintaining them in side-by-siderelation, drive means operatively connected both with said belt meansand with said feed means for driving the latter two means intermittentlyin synchronism to situate the recesses of the belt means successivelybeneath the punch as the lancets are successively punched from thestrip, so that the punched lancets become located in said recesses, saidtiming transfer belt means conveying the punched lancets away from thepunch press to drop successively from said timing transfer belt means,and a packaGing mechanism having a conveyer means extendingperpendicularly to said timing transfer belt means at a location ontowhich the dropped lancets fall so that the dropped lancets are conveyedat the packaging mechanism perpendicularly away from the timing transferbelt means with the dropped lancets arranged on the conveyer means inlongitudinally spaced end-to-end relation.
 6. In an apparatus formanufacturing lancets, feed means for intermittently feeding to a punchpress a strip from which lancets are to be punched at incrementcorresponding to the distance from one lancet to the next in the stripso that a row of lancets carried by the strip will be successivelylocated at a punching position, stop means coacting with said feed meansfor stopping the latter precisely at a position which accurately locateseach lancet at a position to be accurately punched by a descending punchof the punch press, the strip of lancets being a sheet metal stripformed with transverse slots each located between each pair ofsuccessive lancets to be punched from the strip, and said feed meansincluding a rotary gear the teeth of which enter into said slots to meshwith said strip, and said stop means including a rotary stop memberfixed to said gear for rotation therewith and formed at its peripherywith cutouts circumferentially distributed uniformly along saidperiphery, and a stop finger successively displaced into said cutoutsfor precisely positioning said gear of said feed means between thefeeding intervals.
 7. In an apparatus for manufacturing lancets, feedmeans for intermittently feeding to a punch press a strip from whichlancets are to be punched at increments corresponding to the distancefrom one lancet to the next in the strip so that a row of lancetscarried by the strip will be successively located at a punchingposition, stop means coacting with said feed means for stopping thelatter precisely at a position which accurately locates each lancet at aposition to be accurately punched by a descending punch of the punchpress, a timing transfer belt means extending beneath the punch of thepunch press to receive each lancet punched from the strip, said timingtransfer belt means having successive recesses for successivelyreceiving the lancets, and drive means operatively connected both withsaid belt means and with said feed means for driving the latter twomeans intermittently in synchronism to situate the recesses of the beltmeans successively beneath the punch as the lancets are successivelypunched from the strip, said belt means including a pair of endlesstiming belts parallel to but spaced from each other and respectivelyformed with transverse recesses which are respectively aligned to formthe recesses of said belt means, and elevator means aligned with thespace between the belts of said belt means and with the punch of thepunch press for rising up through said space to hold an intermediateportion of each lancet pressed against the punch as the latter descendsto situate the opposed ends of each lancet in a pair of aligned recessesof said belts, whereby said elevator coacts with said punch to maintaineach lancet in a horizontal attitude as it is deposited in each pair ofaligned recesses of the belts of said belt means.
 8. The combination ofclaim 7 and wherein said elevator means includes an elongated plungerand a spring urging the plunger upwardly toward said punch, said plungerhaving an upwardly directed shoulder, and releasable holding meansengaging said shoulder to prevent the spring from moving the plunger uponce the plunger has descended when a lancet has been deposited on saidbelt means, said releasable holding means releasing said plunger forupward movement when the next lancet is punched from the strip.
 9. In anapparatus for manufacturing lancets, feed means for intermittentlyfeeding to a punch press a strip from which lancets are to be punched atincrements corresponding to the distance from one lancet to the next inthe strIp so that a row of lancets carried by the strip will besuccessively located at a punching position, stop means coacting withsaid feed means for stopping the latter precisely at a position whichaccurately locates each lancet at a position to be accurately punched bya descending punch of the punch press, a timing transfer belt meansextending beneath the punch of the punch press to receive each lancetpunched from the strip, said timing transfer belt means havingsuccessive recesses for successively receiving the lancets, and drivemeans operatively connected both with said belt means and with said feedmeans for driving the latter two means intermittently in synchronism tosituate the recesses of the belt means successively beneath the punch asthe lancets are successively punched from the strip, a packaging meansincluding a strip conveyer extending beneath the timing belt meansperpendicularly thereto for moving an adhesive paper strip onto whichthe lancets successively drop from said timing belt means when thelatter changes its direction of movement, and said packaging meansincluding a guide for guiding onto the strip which receives the lancetsa covering strip of adhesive paper to form with the other paper stripsealed pockets in which the lancets are respectively situated.
 10. Thecombination of claim 9 and wherein a cutting means coacts with thestrips for cutting across the latter between said pockets to formseparate packages for the several lancets.
 11. The combination of claim10 and wherein a packing means receives the several packages and packsthem one next to the other in a compact group.
 12. The combination ofclaim 11 and wherein said packing means includes a pair of rotary screwsrespectively having convolutions situated beside each other andreceiving the packages therebetween for packing them one next to theother in said groups.
 13. The combination of claim 8 and wherein thestrip of lancets is a sheet metal strip formed with transverse slotseach located between each pair of successive lancets to be punched fromthe strip, and said feed means including a rotary gear the teeth ofwhich enter into said slots to mesh with said strip, and said stop meansincluding a rotary stop member fixed to said gear for rotation therewithand formed at its periphery with cutouts circumferentially distributeduniformly along said periphery, and a stop finger successively displacedinto said cutouts for precisely positioning said gear of said feed meansbetween the feeding intervals.